A Livingston County man was sentenced to more than two decades in a New York state prison on convictions related to criminal sexual acts with a minor.
Livingston County Court Judge Jennifer M. Noto on Aug. 20 sentenced 40-year-old Patrick J. Steinmetz of Springwater to an aggregate term of 23 years behind bars and 15 years post release supervision as a second felony offender.
After a four day trial last March, a Livingston County Court jury convicted Steinmetz of multiple charges, including use of a child in a sexual performance, two counts of third-degree aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual act.
Prosecutors said the charges stem from the time periods of July and August 2023, January 2024, and March 2024, when Steinmetz sexually abused a teenage girl and solicited and engaged her in prostitution.
Livingston County District Attorney Ashley J. Williams credited the Livingston County Sheriff's Office for its "diligent" investigation, and she praised the bravery of the victim for coming forward and having the courage to testify at trial.
Just last month, a federal court jury convicted Steinmetz of producing and possessing child pornography.
In March 2024, Livingston County Sheriff's Office investigators and the FBI initiated an investigation into allegations that Steinmetz sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl who was known to him multiple times over about nine months.
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According to the victim, Steinmetz used a cell phone to take photos and make video recordings of her naked body as well as while he was sexually assaulting her.
He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 60 years at sentencing on Oct. 20, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Judge sentences Livingston County sex offender to 23 years in prison